Don is my neighbor, so to speak*, and he is a great inspiration.
We fish together at least once a year and always promise to do it more.
I don't have a lot of friends, but I count him as one.
* we live about 20 miles from each other.
I have a million empty cartridge cases, but never thought to smush one into an oval. What a cracking idea!
PS if you're on facebook, join my little group there, "The Palmetto Fly."
Don is there, many world class fly men and women... And a few hacks like me. Cmon around!
I've used the bubbles yes.
I cast a long spin-fly rod, and small bubbles. They hit the water like a bomb, so small is better.
Any leader over 4-5 ft starts to be a pain to cast with fixed floats, of course. A longer rod helps a little, but 6' is approaching my limit.
If you can handle that without tangling, try tying on flies as a team:
One deep, on the point
One shallow, nearer the float.
You can pretie these, with tippet ring or micro/swivel ends for easy rigging.
I find a long rod can help quite a bit if you adapt your cast. Cast sidearm; start with the bubble almost against the rod tip, brig the rod back out to the side and let the fly hang down or swing out even further behind before casting. When you cast, release the line before the rod tip makes it all the way in front of you but keep moving the rod sweeping it across in front of you and all the way over to the other side. The line won't clear the guides as easily and this will cost you some distance, but the line will be feeding out from the side and not tangling with the fly during the cast. If you cast straight overhand, both the line feeding out and the trailing fly will be pointed straight back at you and the line will often tangle on the way out. The few feet in distance you lose doing this is worth it.
I use the torpedo bobbers that you have to tie to and my leader is usually 3' - 5'. With a side arm cast, they usually don't splash down too hard, but if you can cast beyond the mark and then pull back through that is best. If you need to place the fly close to shore or other obstruction you cannot beat a fly rod.
I've use the bubble before on my ultra light rod fishing rubber spiders. I only fish 2 or 3 feet behind the float the longer it is the worse it casts tends to tangle.
if it's super windy use a float and jig,the float and fly as it is called down south.if your fishing from shore have the wind in your face.the float and wave action will make the jig dance underneath.let it drift in and repeat.have done real well with this technique.if your in a boat fish the shoreline the wind is blowing into.a lot of bugs plankton and such are getting blown to the shore .fish follow the food chain.the mechanics are not as important as getting the bait in front of the fish where they are feeding
also important to manage your line in the wind,you can miss many fish with slack or a big bow developing in your line.this is basically drift fishing in static water
Jim, With all due respect that is not down south speak. A float is what you make with ice cream and A&W. You fish with a bobber, pronounced bah-burr. ;^>
we call em bobbers too the tackle companies decided they were floatsif you put a bobber on a fly line its called a strike indicator and cost 5 times as much even tho a heavily weighted nymph and indicator is the same technique as a float and fly.the float and fly is a technique made famous in dale hollow and pickwick for giant smallmouths in the winter using a hair jig and bobber and drifted in the wind.rename rebrand everything old is new
Terminology is funny. I grew up in the deep south catching speckled perch on doll flies and was probably 12 before I found out most people called them crappie and marabou jigs. and sometimes it was under a bobber...
those doll flies are known all over andy great marketing on their part.remember rooster tails?in the 80s it was rattle traps .all caught tons of fish.i used to love going to okeechobee specs was all they talked about.2 aisles of fishing tackle in the grocery store.all about the fishing down there.they definately have their priorities in order.
The funny thing about Rooster Tails is that I refer to the Abu Reflex as a Rooster Tail like that was the generic name even though the ones my dad bought were the Abus (white body, black dots, white dressed treble, silver spinner) and I still refer to lipless cranks as Rattle Traps even though I rarely buy name brand. Now if you say "specs" it means speckled sea trout around here.
Does anyone have any spare sharpened bullet popper punches? I don't have access to bullet casings or the things to sharpen them, but I just picked up a couple pair of flip flops for poppers.
Chris, I went to a little cal gun range and they gave me a few empty cartridges from a variety of calibers. I bought a cartridge sharpener at a gun shop for $5
guys-- after seeing some comments on sharpening empty cartridge cases- thought i would post a pix of some tools called-- burrs. get them from a welding shop for a few dollars. insert into a electric drill;; they work great! will sharpen it to a razors edge!! BUT!! A WORD OF CAUTION!! it CUTS the metal;; leaving very sharp - tiny bits of metal shavings!! wear protective eye wear using these!! these come in many sizes; shapes lengths!!
They are rotary tool bits. I do some rotary carving and have a hanging motor rotary tool with adjustable speed. I would likely use it for initial bevel creation, but only at slow speed and with glasses. Be sure you have the cartridge secured. One of my rules of safety for hand held tools is that either the workpiece or the tool should be hand held but not both. But you could easily use a file or hone if you have one small enough and do it without power (or blood) in under 5 minutes.
Allen- these are heavy duty rotary bits like Andy says;; we used them for metal removal in welding phases;; they produce very sharp ; small piceses of metal; looks a lot like glitter as you use it;; caution is very strongly advised using these! another good way of sharpening those cases;; very simple and easy is;; get a carter key and some sandpaper. cut the sandpaper about 2 inches wide; insert it into the carter key; put into a electric drill;; let it turn slow;; allowing the s, paper to wrap around itself;; then into the casing for sharping. would take only a minute that way;; much easier;; definitly safer than those burr bits!!!!!!!!
Guys the fellow that lives next door to my builds and fly rc aircraft and I mean big ones. Anyway I was over watching him do some maintaince on one of his plane and ask him for 2 or 3 inches of his fuel line. He ask why and I told him I would use is to make some bugs, when he gave me the line he told me if I could make a bug out of the fuel line he would eat it. Two days later I was back with these two and told his to be careful when you bite into them they had hooks it them.
found a school of big bluegills following a school of herring I'm guessing there trying to eat the eggs after the herring spawn, but they hit woolybuggers fished deep
Hello, I have been tying different color rubber band grubs using colored rubber bands kids use to make bracelets. These small cheap rubber bands make very nice looking grub flies that catch Bluegill well but I can't find a head cement that doesn't melt these bands. I have tried clear nail polishes from different manufactures and Cabela's head cement but all seem to melt these bands, Thanks in advance for any ideas on what to use. Gary
Gary I use water base head cement from Jans Netcraft I love it and as of yet haven't had any problems with it. Hey Gary if you get a chance how about showing us some picture of your creations we would love to see them.
Mark!!! those went to the best popper maker I know of !! your work is extrodinary to say the least ! them on e- bay ? hmmm i need to check that place out ! how many hooks and bodys can you do with out ?? LOL
hey mark i see you've got a nice start on the popper game. have you considered how your going to paint them. I started using the copic marker system several years ago and its really opened up a lot of possibilities.
David, aka, "McScruff"
We fish together at least once a year and always promise to do it more.
I don't have a lot of friends, but I count him as one.
* we live about 20 miles from each other.
I have a million empty cartridge cases, but never thought to smush one into an oval. What a cracking idea!
PS if you're on facebook, join my little group there, "The Palmetto Fly."
Don is there, many world class fly men and women... And a few hacks like me. Cmon around!
Mar 20, 2015
Bill Dungan
I live in WINDY Okla. I was thinking about taking my Ultra light spinning rig with me and using it instead of the fly rod on windy days.
Do any of you use a casting bubble on spinets and if so how long of a tippet or leader do you have between the bubble and fly?
I'll hook up with your FB group. McScruff.
Mar 20, 2015
David, aka, "McScruff"
I cast a long spin-fly rod, and small bubbles. They hit the water like a bomb, so small is better.
Any leader over 4-5 ft starts to be a pain to cast with fixed floats, of course. A longer rod helps a little, but 6' is approaching my limit.
If you can handle that without tangling, try tying on flies as a team:
One deep, on the point
One shallow, nearer the float.
You can pretie these, with tippet ring or micro/swivel ends for easy rigging.
Mar 20, 2015
Andy is OptiMystic
I find a long rod can help quite a bit if you adapt your cast. Cast sidearm; start with the bubble almost against the rod tip, brig the rod back out to the side and let the fly hang down or swing out even further behind before casting. When you cast, release the line before the rod tip makes it all the way in front of you but keep moving the rod sweeping it across in front of you and all the way over to the other side. The line won't clear the guides as easily and this will cost you some distance, but the line will be feeding out from the side and not tangling with the fly during the cast. If you cast straight overhand, both the line feeding out and the trailing fly will be pointed straight back at you and the line will often tangle on the way out. The few feet in distance you lose doing this is worth it.
I use the torpedo bobbers that you have to tie to and my leader is usually 3' - 5'. With a side arm cast, they usually don't splash down too hard, but if you can cast beyond the mark and then pull back through that is best. If you need to place the fly close to shore or other obstruction you cannot beat a fly rod.
Mar 20, 2015
dick tabbert
I've use the bubble before on my ultra light rod fishing rubber spiders. I only fish 2 or 3 feet behind the float the longer it is the worse it casts tends to tangle.
Mar 20, 2015
Bill Dungan
Mar 20, 2015
carl hendrix
Bill-- when in doubt-- use a fly rod!!
Mar 20, 2015
David, aka, "McScruff"
Id mount a spinning reel on it, but I don't even think Carl bothers with that!
Mar 20, 2015
carl hendrix
hey David-- WRONG!!! i have 2 old fly rods- i put small trigger spin reels on-- makes for great crappie rods!! the action is- wonderful!!
Mar 20, 2015
jim cosgrove
if it's super windy use a float and jig,the float and fly as it is called down south.if your fishing from shore have the wind in your face.the float and wave action will make the jig dance underneath.let it drift in and repeat.have done real well with this technique.if your in a boat fish the shoreline the wind is blowing into.a lot of bugs plankton and such are getting blown to the shore .fish follow the food chain.the mechanics are not as important as getting the bait in front of the fish where they are feeding
Mar 20, 2015
jim cosgrove
also important to manage your line in the wind,you can miss many fish with slack or a big bow developing in your line.this is basically drift fishing in static water
Mar 20, 2015
Andy is OptiMystic
Jim, With all due respect that is not down south speak. A float is what you make with ice cream and A&W. You fish with a bobber, pronounced bah-burr. ;^>
Mar 20, 2015
jim cosgrove
we call em bobbers too the tackle companies decided they were floatsif you put a bobber on a fly line its called a strike indicator and cost 5 times as much even tho a heavily weighted nymph and indicator is the same technique as a float and fly.the float and fly is a technique made famous in dale hollow and pickwick for giant smallmouths in the winter using a hair jig and bobber and drifted in the wind.rename rebrand everything old is new
Mar 20, 2015
Andy is OptiMystic
Terminology is funny. I grew up in the deep south catching speckled perch on doll flies and was probably 12 before I found out most people called them crappie and marabou jigs. and sometimes it was under a bobber...
Mar 20, 2015
jim cosgrove
those doll flies are known all over andy great marketing on their part.remember rooster tails?in the 80s it was rattle traps .all caught tons of fish.i used to love going to okeechobee specs was all they talked about.2 aisles of fishing tackle in the grocery store.all about the fishing down there.they definately have their priorities in order.
Mar 20, 2015
Andy is OptiMystic
The funny thing about Rooster Tails is that I refer to the Abu Reflex as a Rooster Tail like that was the generic name even though the ones my dad bought were the Abus (white body, black dots, white dressed treble, silver spinner) and I still refer to lipless cranks as Rattle Traps even though I rarely buy name brand. Now if you say "specs" it means speckled sea trout around here.
Mar 20, 2015
David, aka, "McScruff"
Mar 20, 2015
chris kowaleski
Does anyone have any spare sharpened bullet popper punches? I don't have access to bullet casings or the things to sharpen them, but I just picked up a couple pair of flip flops for poppers.
Apr 1, 2015
David, aka, "McScruff"
Apr 1, 2015
jim cosgrove
chris get a set of leather punches
Apr 2, 2015
Bill Dungan
Apr 2, 2015
carl hendrix
Apr 2, 2015
carl hendrix
guys-- after seeing some comments on sharpening empty cartridge cases- thought i would post a pix of some tools called-- burrs. get them from a welding shop for a few dollars. insert into a electric drill;; they work great! will sharpen it to a razors edge!! BUT!! A WORD OF CAUTION!! it CUTS the metal;; leaving very sharp - tiny bits of metal shavings!! wear protective eye wear using these!! these come in many sizes; shapes lengths!!
Apr 2, 2015
Andy is OptiMystic
I have a little ceramic honing rod for gouges that I could easily sharpen cartridges with.
Apr 3, 2015
Allen Morgan
Those look like Dremel bits
Apr 3, 2015
Andy is OptiMystic
They are rotary tool bits. I do some rotary carving and have a hanging motor rotary tool with adjustable speed. I would likely use it for initial bevel creation, but only at slow speed and with glasses. Be sure you have the cartridge secured. One of my rules of safety for hand held tools is that either the workpiece or the tool should be hand held but not both. But you could easily use a file or hone if you have one small enough and do it without power (or blood) in under 5 minutes.
Apr 3, 2015
carl hendrix
Allen- these are heavy duty rotary bits like Andy says;; we used them for metal removal in welding phases;; they produce very sharp ; small piceses of metal; looks a lot like glitter as you use it;; caution is very strongly advised using these! another good way of sharpening those cases;; very simple and easy is;; get a carter key and some sandpaper. cut the sandpaper about 2 inches wide; insert it into the carter key; put into a electric drill;; let it turn slow;; allowing the s, paper to wrap around itself;; then into the casing for sharping. would take only a minute that way;; much easier;; definitly safer than those burr bits!!!!!!!!
Apr 3, 2015
Andy is OptiMystic
"carter key" = cotter pin?
I have also done that with a small dowel for sanding inside whistle bores.
Apr 3, 2015
Andy is OptiMystic
Mark - I know what they are. I was following up with Carl's use of the term. It sounds like he may have meant cotter pin and I was just clarifying.
Apr 3, 2015
Mark Stine
Andy, sorry; thanks for clarifying when I saw the question mark I thought you had a question.
For sharpening the 10" Wet Grinder Kit - Anniversary Edition at grizzly.com is on sale for 159.99 a good price if you don't already have one.
Apr 3, 2015
Andy is OptiMystic
I should have addressed Carl with the question. Online communication is wonderful except when it's not...
Apr 3, 2015
carl hendrix
Andy- you are correct buddy-- my fault for calling them the wrong name; im use to the type of slang language we used at work I guess!!
Apr 3, 2015
John Ratliff
Guys the fellow that lives next door to my builds and fly rc aircraft and I mean big ones. Anyway I was over watching him do some maintaince on one of his plane and ask him for 2 or 3 inches of his fuel line. He ask why and I told him I would use is to make some bugs, when he gave me the line he told me if I could make a bug out of the fuel line he would eat it. Two days later I was back with these two and told his to be careful when you bite into them they had hooks it them.
Apr 16, 2015
carl hendrix
John Ratliff;; i just hope you also gave your buddy some salt and pepper to go with it!! great tie John!!
Apr 16, 2015
edward taylor
love woolybuggers
May 29, 2015
dick tabbert
Man I love them seeds.
May 29, 2015
edward taylor
May 31, 2015
edward taylor
found a school of big bluegills following a school of herring I'm guessing there trying to eat the eggs after the herring spawn, but they hit woolybuggers fished deep
May 31, 2015
Gary Kamatchus
Hello, I have been tying different color rubber band grubs using colored rubber bands kids use to make bracelets. These small cheap rubber bands make very nice looking grub flies that catch Bluegill well but I can't find a head cement that doesn't melt these bands. I have tried clear nail polishes from different manufactures and Cabela's head cement but all seem to melt these bands, Thanks in advance for any ideas on what to use. Gary
Jul 12, 2015
dick tabbert
Gary I use water base head cement from Jans Netcraft I love it and as of yet haven't had any problems with it. Hey Gary if you get a chance how about showing us some picture of your creations we would love to see them.
Jul 12, 2015
Gary Kamatchus
Jul 12, 2015
Richard Allen Rupp
You could also use clear cute too I guess.
Jul 13, 2015
Mark Stine
I see a lot of popper tying in my future! just got this batch of 2500 popper hooks and some bodies on ebay! LOL!
Nov 24, 2015
dick tabbert
Oh yea somebodies going to be busy for awhile good going Mark.
Nov 24, 2015
carl hendrix
Mark!!! those went to the best popper maker I know of !! your work is extrodinary to say the least ! them on e- bay ? hmmm i need to check that place out ! how many hooks and bodys can you do with out ?? LOL
Nov 24, 2015
Allen Morgan
Nice! That should keep you busy this Winter!
Nov 24, 2015
David, aka, "McScruff"
Nov 24, 2015
edward taylor
love poppers
Nov 25, 2015
john
hey mark i see you've got a nice start on the popper game. have you considered how your going to paint them. I started using the copic marker system several years ago and its really opened up a lot of possibilities.
Mar 4, 2017
Leo Nguyen
Okay, someone got to test this out, on a mini scale, for panfish. David Hutton brought up some good stuff...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epMjwnTzRyI
Dec 19, 2017